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Mater's Back In New Cars 3 TV Spot

Lightning McQueen has his best buddy in tow in the first TV spot for Cars 3. Of course, Larry the Cable Guy has done the voice (or in Cable Guy speak, "Got-R-Done") of Tow Mater since the first blockbuster Cars film in 2006 and reprised the role in 2011's Cars 2. In the interim he's kept his voice from getting rusty with roles in nine other film shorts or TV episodes 9 (and eight video games). As for Cars 3, fans of the lovable yet dumpy and dimwitted ol' tow truck will no doubt get revved up when they see him and Lightning (voice of Owen Wilson) together again in the new 30-second spot.

The spot, titled "Lightning Strikes," debuted during Saturday night's Kids' Choice Awards on Nickelodeon. What sets the Cars 3 spot apart from the film's previous trailers, according to the blog Pixar Post, is that it includes the first clear footage of Mater that features his unmistakable "gee, aw shucks" voice. His appearance comes in the form of a video chat at the end of the spot, where in an attempt to give his struggling buddy, Lightning, some advice, Mater says, "You know what I'd do?" to which Lighting replies, "What?" In clueless Mater fashion, the tow truck responds, "I don't know. I got nothin'."

Also featured in the spot is hippie VW van (Lloyd Sherr, who took over the role after original voice actor George Carlin died in 2008) and Lightning's new hot shot competitor Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer). The debut of the TV spot comes on the announcement from Disney-Pixar the addition of three new voices to the new Cars lot: Kerry Washington (Scandal), Nathan Fillion (Castle) and Lea DeLaria (Orange is the New Black). Disney-Pixar also confirmed the return of several Radiator Springs residents to Cars 3, including Sally (Bonnie Hunt), Sarge (Paul Dooley) and Ramone (Cheech Marin).

A lot of expectations will be riding on Disney-Pixar's bumpers for Cars 3, given the critical and financial disappointment of Cars 2 six years ago. The second leg in the Cars trilogy was met with a dismal 39 percent aggregate rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and earned $191.4 million at the domestic box office, according to BoxOfficeMojo. By contrast, Cars 2 was far out-paced by the original animated blockbuster, which crossed its finish line with $244 million in ticket sales, domestically, and a healthy 74 percent Rotten Tomatoes score.